“Jesus said to another, "Follow Me."
But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." (Luke 9:59)

If there is one thing (among many) that seems to be hindering the vitality and growth of the church today, it is this: not that we are doing the wrong things or not enough; rather it is that we tend to follow Jesus out of convenience, not commitment.

Somewhere in our journey with Jesus, we, in and as the church, have come to take our walk with Him for granted—or at least, not in the way it is supposed to be. We’ve become perhaps too comfortable, and way too self-serving—that is, we see Jesus as the One who came to serve us, rather than the other way around!

That maybe because Jesus does meet our needs, multiplying fish and loaves to feed us; maybe it is because Jesus is always there, with us, hearing and helping us at any moment, everywhere; and maybe it is because we think that is just His role—

“He came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for the many” (Mark 10:45).

The problem however isn’t because of Jesus and what He did and does: it is because we’ve mistaken His purpose in serving us, and taken His love for us as an excuse not to have to serve, sacrifice, and fully follow Him!

“Jesus was saying to them all,
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself,
and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:22)

Being a disciple of Jesus is a matter of commitment to Him, not convenience to us!

Have you ever said something like the following?

“I’m sorry, I can’t be a church officer—I don’t have the time right now”

“When they change the worship time to 10:30, I won’t go—it doesn’t fit in with my Sunday routine.”

“I can’t attend Sunday School—it’s too early.”

“I won’t be in worship today: there’s no a/c—it’s too hot!”
“I can’t go on the mission trip—it is just not a good time for me.”

Pastor and Evangelist Greg Laurie, in his book The Upside Down Church observes:

“if we train people to be consumers instead of communers, we’ll end up with customers instead of disciples” (p. 42). Perhaps that’s the root of it all: when we look at God as our Great CONVENIENCE store, there for us like 7/11, we forget that we’re here and His in Jesus to serve Him 24/7!

Looking forward to continuing to serve Jesus with You, at and as His PPC church,at HIS CONVENIENCE!

¨ Session welcomed Shirley McLeod, Sonrise Preschool director, who gave an update on the status of the preschool thus far this year, and plans for preschool’s future development and expansion.

¨ Session approved by majority vote a motion to let Sonrise additionally utilize room 201 when they expand to the second floor (in a year or two).

¨ Session called a meeting of the congregation to elect three covenant partners to the 2019-2020 congregational nominating committee.

¨ Session approved the distribution to the PPC family and preschool community of access to “Right Now Media” provided by the Hammonds.

¨ Session receive Pastor Carl’s notification of his plan to retire effective Sept. 1, 2020. ECO Florida Presbytery prefers at least an 18-month transition period for such situations in its member churches. Pastor Carl will stay-on and continue to be PPC’s pastor until his retirement. Presbytery’s representative will meet with Session on May 21 to go over the process of transition and for calling a new pastor.

¨ Session also approved Pastor Carl’s vacation leave request for April 29—May 6 to attend the wedding of his youngest son. Pastor Gary Hofmeyer will preach and lead communion on May 5.

¨ Session approved the concept (only) of developing a job description for a “Summer 2019 Circuit Rider to (minister to) young families.” The description will be brought to Session for consideration when it is finalized.

Submitted on behalf of

Leslie Hughes, Clerk pro-tem of Session

Session minutes are open records and available to any covenant partner of PPC upon request.

Thank you for being sure to contribute your time, talents, and treasure to what Jesus is doing through us all here at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. This is a way that we fulfill what Jesus said in Matthew 22:37b was the greatest command: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Let’s be sure to carry out that command, so we can glorify and enjoy God in all aspects of our lives.

Jesus’ miracles and the events leading up to Resurrection Sunday are what the kids in Praise Kids Club have been studying in the end of March and April. So that the kids might have an idea of what the church members were celebrating, we studied Palm Sunday the week before and studied the resurrection on Palm Sunday.

If you know of kids in your neighborhood or family who would come to Praise kids, contact Laurie Smith.

Kids are divided into appropriate groups and enjoy snacks, games and crafts in addition to the lesson and Bible verse.

They meet on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m.

Please consider volunteering with us putting out the snacks, helping teach, etc.

“Breakfast With Jesus” (Bible Study) has resumed. Teacher: Larry Oline at 8:30 in Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to come have breakfast at 8:30am and stay to study God’s Word at 8:45am. We are continuing our study of ACTS. Class ends at 9:45am.

SESSION has determined that worship will continue in the sanctuary for as long as possible. In the mean time, at least one of the two a/c units for the chapel will be replaced using all the remaining church reserve funds. If and when it becomes necessary over the summer, worship will be moved to the chapel until the Sanctuary a/c is replaced. Session has decided not to incur debt to resolve the a/c needs. Instead, Session has sent an appeal to the PPC family to help fund the a/c replacements; the cost for the sanctuary a/c is $31,000; the 2 chapel a/c units are $7,200 each; replacement of the a/c on the second floor (by room 201) is $11,000. Checks can be made out to PPC, designated “for a/c”.

Thank you for all your help with our auction. The church families were so generous to donate baskets for our raffles as well as purchasing raffle tickets to win items. We are so grateful for your support and it helps the preschool to make improvements within our program.

The last day of school is May 23rd when our prek students graduate. Many of our graduates have been our students since they were two years old. We will miss them. Please pray for all our graduates and their families as they move on to their next adventure in the world. I pray that the seeds that have been planted here at Sonrise will blossom into beautiful flowers that will be a testimony to God’s awesome love.

Sonrise will have a 7-week Summer camp following the church VBS week. Many of our families plan to come to VBS and will be here throughout the summer, playing and having fun! Shirley McLeod, Director

Our church and Evangemissions is so excited to be partnering with Right Now Media for this exciting new chapter in the life of our church! The first step to seeing the most impact through this resource is simply to make sure we get it into the hands of every member of our church. Below are ways you can connect.

Custom Email Invite
This is the primary invite being sent out and the easiest for you! On April 7th, everyone in our church whose email we have received an email saying that they have received a gift from us. If you received that all you have to do is follow the link in the email and you’ll be ready to go!

No Member Left Behind
We understand that we may not have an up-to-date email address for everyone. We would still love for you to have access to this gift as early as possible! If you didn’t get an invite go to; https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/Invite/Pasadena or find the link on our website and you or anyone else who goes to our church website and clicks this link will be able to set up their account immediately. That’s right, even your family and friends who don’t attend our church regularly.

Why Should You Have a Right Now Media Account?

Our goal is to encourage you to be on mission wherever God has you. We want to unleash you to disciple and mobilize believers to live like Jesus in your home, neighborhoods, at work and around the world. The mission of the Church matters. God’s people can have a powerful impact on this world.

What Can I Access On Right Now Media?

There are 20,000 biblical videos, available from any device. Build adult and small group ministries with easy-to-find resources that help them grow in faith. Choose from more than 2,000 wholesome, educational, and entertaining videos in the RightNow Media library to share with your children in your family or neighborhood.

We hope you will find this new tool helpful in your personal ministry to family and community. If you want to contact me for assistance with accessing or using it please send an email to me.

AUTHOR DENISE HUNTER TRIES TO WRITE NOVELS WITH A MODERN SETTING AND A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
“We live in a culture that's anti-Jesus. We're surrounded by people, radio, TV, magazines, and books that tell us there is no God or that there are many ways to God. I want to write books that show how someone can relate personally to God and that God can be an integral part in our lives. I hope seekers and new believers can read my books and see how Christians think and behave through the characters. When they make mistakes, what are the consequences, and what do they do about it?” Denise Hunter said in an interview on the website FocusFiction.net.

Mrs. Hunter has written over 30 novels; won various awards; and had two books which became Hallmark movies (The Convenient Groom, December Bride).

She says that she wants to write novels which edify and encourage. Years ago, she says, she read the wrong kind of novel-secular romance novels- and became addicted. She felt that God wanted her to stop but “I'm ashamed to say it's one of the few things I've ever fought God about. For a few years I poured things into my mind that were displeasing to God.” In those years Christian novels were not interesting to her but when she finally listened to God, there were more Christian novelists writing stories which interested her. It took three years for her first novel to be published and she continues to write.

“I hope readers of my books will have a greater sense of God at work in their own lives. I hope they’ll feel they know the Lord’s nature better, and as a result, will feel closer to Him. I hope they’ll know the hope we have in this messed up world because of God’s grace and mercy.”

Sarah Circle — Tuesday, May 14th—meet at church @ 11:30am to go to the restaurant where they will have lunch.

We have one day circle (that meets either at 12 noon or 1:00 p.m.) and one evening circle (that meets either at 6:30 or 7:00 p.m.). This is not like a club – all women of Pasadena Presbyterian Church are invited to come to either of the circle meetings. They are open to all women. We have bible study, fellowship and light refreshments. We do have a budget for each calendar year and your offerings help us to contribute to the missions that we support, local and foreign. If you want more details regarding Women of the Church, please contact Pat Watts for further information.

CWU (Church Women United) urges us to participate in National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 2nd.

Friday, May 3rd is May Fellowship Day. Information is posted on our bulletin board.

WOC COLLECTS USED POSTAGE STAMPS, “BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION” TO BENEFIT OTHERS
Did you know that used postage stamps can have value to others? Ultimately, they will probably get to a stamp collector (called a philatelist) by way of a charity which sells them to companies which sell to beginning collectors. Also, they won’t end up in the landfill.
The stamps which are sold for charities are called kiloware because they are dealt with in bags or packets.
If you care to donate your posted postage to the women of the church, here’s how:
1. Look at your mail carefully. Only “Forever” or stamps with value numbers on them are needed, NOT non-profit or bulk.
2. Each stamp needs to have 1/3 to one half inch of paper all around the perforation.
3. Carefully open the envelope by lifting the flap and also the side where it is glued to leave enough paper. This can
become second nature after a little practice. Stamp collectors are picky about the condition of stamps and want a paper edge left until a dealer can correctly remove the stamp.
4. Gently tear off the stamp with paper all around it.
5. Place your stamps in one of the baskets in the hallway near the patio entrance to the church. You will see examples of correct and incorrect stamps hanging from the basket. Box Tops for Education may also be placed in this basket. (See the May church newsletter online for details on that).
6. The women of the church send the stamps to charity.

We Need Your Help Finding All Our 2019 Graduates (and June through December 2018 ones, too)!

We need information for a brochure to be included in the announcement sheet:

+Name of person graduating from high school, trade school or college (including August and
December 2018 graduates); city and state the school is in; city and state they live in; their relation to you and the parents’ names.

+ Name of school, degree, honors, awards, sports, clubs, interests, hobbies, any volunteer work or membership at PPC and/or their church, future plans.

+ Don’t worry about how the information is worded; it will be rewritten to fit the brochure style.

+A good-quality photo (may be emailed)

+The graduates can be you, your son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, etc., any person that has a direct relation or connection with a member of our church or has volunteered at PPC.

The combination school/church/training center in Ghana is completed, and the open-air dining room and kitchen are almost done. The Ghanaian govt. is going to provide teachers, desks, and textbooks. Pastor Anthony informed me last week that govt. reps came to inspect the school and are requiring that we add an office for teachers, a playground, access to water, and urinals.

We’ve not come up with a solution to adding urinals and the associated plumbing because there are no sewers in the village, but after May 1st, there will be money to dig a hand-pump well. Pastor and I agreed that we would convert one of the three classrooms into office space for the staff.

Donations to buy playground equipment (swings, monkey bars, soccer nets, etc.) are most welcome. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me or Pastor Anthony.

Paper towel tubes needed for VBS crafts
VBS will be coming soon and we are choosing crafts for the kids to make to learn the lessons and have fun, too.

We need empty paper towel tubes, especially, and large cereal boxes. Please bring them to the church office, the library, or Laurie Smith, craft director.

P.S. If you want to know how the paper towel tubes are to be used, the best thing to do is volunteer at vacation Bible school and find out!

“Parables of Jesus”

This Bible study group with Pastor Gary and Tom Smith III teaching is focusing on the PARABLES Jesus taught. The study meets on Wednesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Library in the Boswell Room. Everyone is welcome to come and participate!

Emails to the Church

If you are attempting to contact us at PPC, please make sure you are using the correct email address for us as listed in the weekly Flyer. If you send an email to us, but do not receive a reply, please call the OFFICE.
If you are not receiving emails from us, please make sure we have YOUR current email address.

PRAYER REQUESTS

We try to stay on top of prayer requests and concerns. If you know of someone who is ill in our church family, please let the office know. Even if the office is closed you can still leave a voice mail. If you have a pastoral emergency, you can always leave a voice mail at the Manse at 727-368-5588.
In the event that Pastor Carl is on vacation, we always record the substitute’s name and telephone number on our outgoing voice mail message. Thank you for your help.

Facility Use Notice

PPC facilities are not ordinarily open in the evening for meetings or groups on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and all-day on Saturdays. If your meeting or group is affected by this new policy, you need to contact the church office to reschedule your use of the facilities to Tuesday or Thursday eveningsuntil 8:30pm. If your group can’t change to meet on the nights when PPC is now open, you will need to contact Pastor Carl to get keys and codes —you will be responsible for locking up and setting the alarm—or find another location off site.

Please Help Keep God's Facilities Nice!

PLEASE DO NOT PUT PAPER FLYERS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE WALLS!

WE HAVE BULLETIN BOARDS FOR OUR VARIOUS MINISTRIES AND GROUPS TO USE TO POST ITEMS.

IF YOU NEED SOMETHING POSTED, PLEASE CHECK WITH THE APPROPRIATE MINISTRY OR GROUP OR THE CHURCH OFFICE.

Dollars for Deacons Fund

Please Remember The Dollars For Deacons Offering Envelopes in the Sanctuary.

Change of Address

If your address or phone number has changed, please let the office know. This includes your cell phone number and email address. Many times we are not informed of your new contact information and either we in the office are trying to get in touch with you or one of the elders or deacons have information to bring to you and cannot contact you due to the wrong information. Please drop your new contact information on a slip of paper and place it in the offering plate or just call the office with an update.

Thank you, The Church Office

Collect Aluminum Cans

Please bring in your aluminum soda cans (rinsed) and put them in the blue recycling bin, opposite the church kitchen door, as you come in to the Fellowship Hall. These cans will be sold to a salvage business and the money will go toward our youth ministries. Thank you!

Format for Submitting Information To Be Printed

Submit information 2 weeks prior to date needed print ready.

Send information as an Electronic File MS Word Format.

Newsletter articles are always due by the 15th of the month.

Newsletter articles should be in Ariel and font no larger than 10.

Newsletter articles should be titled with ministry, month and year ie, “Library February 2019”.